February 5, 2020
Theatre professors Davis and Cranford open production starring 'Laverne & Shirley's' Cindy Williams
Submitted by Professor Jerry Jay Cranford
James Davis, lighting and sound design specialist professor, and Jerry Jay Cranford, theatre acting and directing professor, open the Kansas City professional Actors Equity Association production of "Church Basement Ladies" starring Cindy Williams on Feb. 5. The production will have eight performances per week until April 12 at Kansas City's New Theatre.
The New Theatre has been providing high-quality theatre entertainment to the Kansas City area since the 1970s. It is the largest and most successful theatre restaurant facility in the United States and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as "the best dinner theatre in the country."
Cranford is the choreographer of the production and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union. It's Cranford's fourth production as a choreographer for the company. He will also be choreographing the summer 2020 production of "Freaky Friday," spring 2021 "Little Shop of Horrors" and directing/choreographing the summer 2021 musical "Spamalot."
Davis marks his second production with the company having recently served as the lighting designer for "The Last Romance" starring television and film stars Michael Learned and Charlie Robison. In the summers, Davis is the general manager for the professional AEA company The Clinton Area Showboat in Iowa.